Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE: Carabao Cup result, final score and reaction after Granit Xhaka red card
Follow all the reaction from the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg as the visitors held on for a draw despite Granit Xhaka’s early red card
Follow live reaction after Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by 10-men Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Anfield.
Liverpool were handed a huge opportunity to take a lead into next week’s return leg at the Emirates after Granit Xhaka’s early red card forced Arsenal to play the majority of the match with 10 men. Xhaka was shown a straight red card on 23 minutes when he brought down Diogo Jota with a high tackle on the edge of the box. Jota had been released by a long ball over the top and was through on goal when Xhaka took him down.
But Mikel Arteta’s side were deserving of their draw after producing a committed defensive performance that limited Liverpool to few chances. Takumi Minamino squandered a golden opportunity late on but blazed a shot over the bar with the goal gaping after Aaron Ramsdale had dropped a cross.
The hosts were ultimately left frustrated following a poor attacking performance in the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and it hands Arsenal the edge as they take home advantage into the return leg next Thursday.
Follow all the latest reaction below:
Liverpool waste chance presented by Granit Xhaka red card as 10-man Arsenal battle for Carabao Cup stalemate
A fixture contoured by false positives, Covid postponement conspiracies, and coverage of an EFL investigation that was never going to happen got all the sauce out of the way in the build-up.
Liverpool’s first-leg hosting of Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final, a week after the original date was scuppered by a feared Omicron outbreak at the Anfield club, was flavourless but for one moment of ‘He’s Done It Again!’
There were no goals but the game did register an early shower. If you were informed that Arsenal, with 24 on the clock and the scoreline still reading 0-0, received a red card for sheer stupidity meshed with dangerous play and denying a scoring opportunity, the response would overwhelmingly be: Granit Xhaka again?
Liverpool waste chance as 10-man Arsenal battle for Carabao Cup first-leg stalemate
Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal: Hosts unable to capitalise on midfielder’s latest error of judgement as Gunners earn a valuable first-leg draw
Arsenal hold out for goalless draw against Liverpool
This was the fifth time that Liverpool and Arsenal have registered a 0-0 draw when facing each other in the League Cup, more than any other fixture in the competition’s history.
Arsenal show survival instincts after Granit Xhaka plays out recurring nightmare
There are times when Arsenal’s supporters must wonder if they are trapped in a recurring nightmare. Slowly, slowly the stone is heaved up the mountain but then, just as the crest of a new horizon comes into view, there stands the forbidding silhouette of Granit Xhaka, flinging his foot like a sickle.
Arsenal had already arrived at Anfield with the bare bones of a squad - even before Cedric Soares contrived to pick up a hip injury inside the opening minute - but had, somehow, just about managed to withstand Liverpool’s opening wave of pressure.
In fact, after 24 minutes, that frenetic energy that swirls off the Mersey on nights like these had just started to subdue and, along with it, the fear that a dauntingly strong Liverpool eleven might fulfil Jurgen Klopp’s wish of reducing this semi-final to effectively a one-legged tie all along.
Arsenal show survival instincts after Granit Xhaka’s recurring nightmare
After being left in the lurch by Xhaka’s red card, Arsenal showed their mettle to keep the semi-final tie in the balance
Reaction from White
Arsenal defender, Ben White, put in a man of the match performance to marshall the Gunners’ defensive effort and keep a clean sheet with just 10-men. He spoke to Sky Sports after the match saying:
It was not an ideal start but there is so much fight in this team. It’s hard enough coming here with 11 men, absolutely superb from everyone.
“You have to concentrate the whole game and the result is well deserved. It’s nice to defend like that as a defender. We were confident coming here and will give our all in the next game.”
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
The second leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final takes place a week from today (20th January) at the Emirates Stadium. It is now a one match shootout between Liverpool and Arsenal with the victor taking on Chelsea in the final.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
It isn’t the result they would have been hoping for but not all is lost for Liverpool. There’s still the second leg to come at the Emirates and Jurgen Klopp’s men will believe they can get a result away from home.
It is never easy trying to break a deadlock against 10-men. Arsenal set up with nine players behind the ball and gave Liverpool no space in the penalty area. The Reds missed the creativity of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah but even with their main goalscorers Arsenal’s defensive solidity would have been tough to break through.
Full-time: Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
90+5 mins: There has only been one shot on target all game and that was from Arsenal who’ve ended up with just 22% possession. The final whistle goes and Arsenal complete their clean sheet. The Arsenal players look knackered. They’ve held out for 75 minutes against Liverpool to keep the tie on level terms going into the second leg.
The result will feel like a win for the Gunners.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
90+2 mins: Liverpool win a corner that Robertson drives towards the near post. Lacazette is there to fire the ball into the stands. Liverpool keep up the pressure though and swing the ball in from the left. It’s half-cleared byt Ramsdale but he punches the ball to Williams who immediately shoots only for his effort to be blocked by Ben White!
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
90 mins: Five minutes of added time to play at Anfield. Can Liverpool get a goal? Arsenal are scrambling at the back, their defensive performance tonight has been superb. They deserve a clean sheet.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Arsenal
89 mins: Chance! Liverpool have to score here! Williams slides a pass down the right wing and Oxlade-Chamberlain gets to the ball. He chips it into the box and Ramsdale comes to punch it clear. He gets it all wrong and knocks the ball into one of his own defenders and the rebound falls for Minamino. He’s got an open goal in front of him but belts his effort over the bar and into the Kop!
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